Influencing the SME of PVA films with integrated iron nanoparticles using ultrasound during production

In today's world, shape memory polymers (SMPs) have already found application in a wide range of domains, including medical engineering, control technology, and others. The ability of the polymers to "remember" a stored shape is provoked by different stimuli such as light, pH, temperature or other factors. A widely studied SMP is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which is characterised by biocompatibility, high hydrophilicity, non-toxicity, and efficient shape memory behaviour. The present study investigates the influence of energy input via ultrasound technology in the polymer mixture on the shape memory effect of PVA with integrated iron nanoparticles. In order to achieve this objective, the strain recovery capacity and strain fixity rate at varying levels of energy input were experimentally determined. Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) was the method of choice for gaining insights into this phenomenon. A decline in the strain fixity rate was observed in PVA films with integrated iron nanoparticles, as the energy input increased. This renders the process of storing "new" shapes more challenging. No alteration in strain recovery was observed when energy was introduced by ultrasound.